Adjusting device for chairs



(No Model.)

W. H. OKEEFE. ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR CHAIRS.

Patented May 31, 1898.

THE NORRIS Pnnu cm. wAsHmorcu, 0. c4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. OKEEFE, F LooKPoRT, NEW YORK.

A DJ USTlNG Device FOR CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 605,008, dated May 31, 1898. Application filed July 2 9, 1897. Serial lie. 646,397. (No model.)

To allv whom it may concern:

Be it known that I',W1-LLIAM H. OKEEFE, a resident of Lockport', in the county'of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjusting Devices for Chairs; and Ldo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itlappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in adjusting devices for chairs,- the objects of the invention being to provide adjustable devices for chair-backs which shall be simplei-n construction, in which the pull on the connect:

ing-rods will be at all i times longitudinal of 'saidrods, which shall'be easy and quick of application, and-which shall be efiectualin all respectsin the performance of their functions. I g g Withgthese objects in view the invention 'con sistsin certain novel features of construca view of a chair, showing the application of any improvements thereto. Fig. 2- is a top V of fastening the yoke.

- .3ilanview of a portion of a chair, showing the arms, the yoke, and, in dotted lines, the means 7 Figs. 3,4, 5, o, 7, s,

and 9 are detail views.

A represents the body portion ofv a chair,

.and B the back thereof, the lower endof the latterbein g pivotally connected with thebody portion of the chair in proximity to the seat;

To the under face ofeach side rail or arm rest a slotted box 2 is secured, one wall of the slot of each box being made to form a ratchetbar 3, each tooth of which is made with a faceright right anglesto the longitudinal axis of with ratchet-teeth 7, and one wall of each tooth-is preferably curved, as at 8. I

A yoke D, made preferably of steel rod or wire, is passed loosely through the slotted bracke'ts'O, the rear bar 9 of said yoke extending transversely of the chair-back and the parallel bars 10 1O projecting parallel wijih the under face of the side rails or arm-rests. Each side bar 10 of the yoke D passes loosely through a clip or bracket 1l,'secured to the under faces of the respective side bars or armrests of the chair. 1

The side bars 10 of the yoke D enter the slotted boxes 2, and their free endsare bent dowiiwardly to form teeth 12, which project through the slots in the respective boxes 2 and engage the ratchet-bars 3. Each side bar 10 of the yoke is also provided at thefree eiid of its tooth 12 with a knob 13, whereby to disengage the same from the r'atehetbars 3. The teeth on the side bars 10 of the yoke are prevented from being moved out of line with the ratchet-bars on the side rails or arm-rests v by the slotted boxes 2, into which the side bars of the yoke project, as above explained.

By connecting the side rails or arm-rests of "the-chair with the chair-back those portions of-the side bars of the yoke beyond the clips ll-will form springs,and thus retain said yoke 'in proper connection with the ratchet-bars on the side rails of the chair, but permitting at t the same time the ready withdrawal of the teeth at the free ends of the parallel bars of the yoke from the ratchet-bars when it' is desir'ed'toadjust the back.

From the construction and arrangement of parts above described it will be seen that when the'pressure of a person is brought to bear against the back the strain will come directly upon the side bars of the yoke, and

thelpnll on these bars will be straight and ex-' actly in line with the longitudinal axes thereof. Thus I am enabled to employ light ma- The brackets .O afford positive and certain supports for the yoke, and the yoke will move from one tooth to another as the back is adjusted and regulated by the ratchetson the side rails or arm-rests, and no matter what inclination the back may be 'i'nade to assume the yoke will always occupy the same horizon tal plan-e.

My improvements are very simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, can be easily and quickly applied and readily operated while the user is seated on the chair, and are citcetual in all respects in the performance of their functions.

Various changes might be made in the form and construction of the various details of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a chair-body and aback hinged thereto, of a ratchet-bar secured to the chair-body at each side thereof, ratchet-bars secured to the chair-back at each side thereof and a yoke extending across said back, engaging the ratchet-bars thereon and having teeth at the free ends of its side bars adapted to engage the ratchet-bars secured to the chair-body, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a chair-body and a back hinged thereto, of ratchet-bars secured to the chair-body, ratchet-bars secured to the chair-back, a yoke extending across the chair back and engaging the ratchet-bars thereon, teeth at the free ends of the side bars of said yoke to engage the ratchetbars on the chair-body and clips secured to the chairbody, through which the side bars of the yoke pass, substantially as set forth. 7

3. The combination-with a chair-body and a back hinged thereto, of slotted brackets secured to the chair-back, a ratchet-bar in each slotted'bra-cket, a yoke extending across the chair back, passing through said slotted brackets and engaging said ratchet-bars and means for adjustably and removably conmeeting the side bars of said yoke to the chair- 5 body, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a chair-bod y and a chair-back hinged thereto, of ratchet-bars secured to the under face of the side rails of the chair-body, ratchet-bars secured to the upright rails of the chair-back at points which are normally in line with the side rails of the chair, rods connected with the ratchet-bars on the back and with the ratchet-bars on the side rails and clips through which said rods under faces of the side rails of the chair, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a chair-body and a back hinged thereto at points below the side rails of the chair, of ratchet-bars secured to the side rails, brackets having slots and ratchet-bars therein, secured to the chairback, a yoke extending across the chair-back, passing through the slots in said brackets and engaging the ratchet-bars therein, teeth at the free ends of the parallel bars of said yoke adapted to engage the rat-chet-bars-seeured to the side rails, handles or knobs 011 said side bars of the yoke and clips secured to the ear bars of the chair through which said side bars of the yoke pass, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a chair-body and a back hinged thereto, of slotted brackets having ratchet-bars, secured to the chairbaek, slotted boxes having ratchet-bars, secured to the side rails of the chair, a yoke passing through the slotted brackets and engaging the ratchet-bars therein, teeth at the free ends of the parallel bars of the yoke, said free ends of the parallel bars being adapted to enter said boxes and the teeth to engage the ratchet-bars therein, and knobs at the free ends of said teeth, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this ing witnesses.

WILL AM ll. OKliltl l' Witnesses:

E. W. S. RINGINBERG, Airrmws A. BRADLEY.

loosely pass, said clips being secured to the specification in the presence of two subscrib-. 

